In Chicago, a Fairy and Santa Are In, Jesus Is Out
Published: 12/4/2006 4:50 PM ET
The Christkindl, or Christmas Fairy, is welcome at a Christmas festival in Chicago
Chicago Chicago 's Daley Plaza
Here's what happened. Christkindlmarket, based on a German Christmas market dating back to 1545, has been staged, with the city's blessing, since 1997 atDaley Plaza America
The current trouble began when city officials got wind that New Line Cinema, one of the corporate sponsors, would have a booth featuring clips from “The Nativity Story,” which depicts the events surrounding the birth of Jesus. According to early reviews, the movie is a powerful, true-to-Scripture portrayal of Joseph and Mary's travails and Jesus's birth in a stable inBethlehem
For being too upfront about the real meaning of Christmas, the studio was sent packing--by the very city officials who welcome annual Gay Pride Week, complete with, well, you know. Okay, maybe you don't, because the media airbrush out the most shocking depravities. Suffice to say that city officials welcome “Mr. Leather” and friends, but feel that too much Jesus might be offensive.
The good news for the studio is that you can't buy this kind of publicity. When a film is so moving that it poses a threat to non-stop shopping, beer guzzling, and wurst gobbling, it must have something going for it.
Since this hit the news, the bureaucrats have ladled more PC dressing over their ham-handed action than street vendors pour mustard on aChicago
The Associated Press reports that Mayor's Office of Special Events spokesgrinch Cindy Gatziolis argued that the event already has a nativity scene, and that other religions are represented in the square with displays erected by private groups. OK, fair enough. But she stressed that the city doesn't want to appear to endorse one religion over another—at the Christmas fair. It's all about inclusion, you see, which is why they have to exclude a film about Jesus that might move people's hearts.
Jim Law, executive director of the same office, issued a statement that the film would be “insensitive to the many people of different faiths who come to enjoy the market for its good and unique gifts.” In effect, Mr. Law is saying the City ofChicago
Never mind that the whole reason behind the Christmas tradition of gift giving is to reflect on and emulate God's gift to the world of his Son.
This doesn't mean that non-Christians can't enjoy Christmas. A recent survey shows that 96% of Americans celebrate Christmas, and growing numbers of them are fed up with the media-fed PC diktat to say “Happy Holidays” instead of “Merry Christmas.” After hearing from countless unhappy customers, a number of retailers, most prominently Macy's, Sears, Target, Kohl's and Wal-Mart, have reintroduced the C-word in their ads and/or greetings. Last year, Lowe's quickly abandoned a “holiday tree” marketing campaign after incensed consumers asked them, “Never mind those. Where are the Christmas trees?”
Judging from recent movies, the pendulum seems to be swinging back toward unselfconscious celebration of Christmas so long as it's safely secularized, as in “The Santa Claus III,” “Deck the Halls,” “Elf,” “Christmas with the Cranks,” etc. The time may have come to fulfill Peanuts character Lucy's wish to be the Christmas Queen, another character you won't find in the Book of Luke.
What's still problematic, judging byChicago
“In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.” (John 1:4,5)
“The Nativity Story” opens today in 3,000 theaters nationwide. Theater owners probably won't be offended if lots of people pass through their turnstiles. Merry Christmas.
Here's what happened. Christkindlmarket, based on a German Christmas market dating back to 1545, has been staged, with the city's blessing, since 1997 at
The current trouble began when city officials got wind that New Line Cinema, one of the corporate sponsors, would have a booth featuring clips from “The Nativity Story,” which depicts the events surrounding the birth of Jesus. According to early reviews, the movie is a powerful, true-to-Scripture portrayal of Joseph and Mary's travails and Jesus's birth in a stable in
For being too upfront about the real meaning of Christmas, the studio was sent packing--by the very city officials who welcome annual Gay Pride Week, complete with, well, you know. Okay, maybe you don't, because the media airbrush out the most shocking depravities. Suffice to say that city officials welcome “Mr. Leather” and friends, but feel that too much Jesus might be offensive.
The good news for the studio is that you can't buy this kind of publicity. When a film is so moving that it poses a threat to non-stop shopping, beer guzzling, and wurst gobbling, it must have something going for it.
Since this hit the news, the bureaucrats have ladled more PC dressing over their ham-handed action than street vendors pour mustard on a
The Associated Press reports that Mayor's Office of Special Events spokesgrinch Cindy Gatziolis argued that the event already has a nativity scene, and that other religions are represented in the square with displays erected by private groups. OK, fair enough. But she stressed that the city doesn't want to appear to endorse one religion over another—at the Christmas fair. It's all about inclusion, you see, which is why they have to exclude a film about Jesus that might move people's hearts.
Jim Law, executive director of the same office, issued a statement that the film would be “insensitive to the many people of different faiths who come to enjoy the market for its good and unique gifts.” In effect, Mr. Law is saying the City of
Never mind that the whole reason behind the Christmas tradition of gift giving is to reflect on and emulate God's gift to the world of his Son.
This doesn't mean that non-Christians can't enjoy Christmas. A recent survey shows that 96% of Americans celebrate Christmas, and growing numbers of them are fed up with the media-fed PC diktat to say “Happy Holidays” instead of “Merry Christmas.” After hearing from countless unhappy customers, a number of retailers, most prominently Macy's, Sears, Target, Kohl's and Wal-Mart, have reintroduced the C-word in their ads and/or greetings. Last year, Lowe's quickly abandoned a “holiday tree” marketing campaign after incensed consumers asked them, “Never mind those. Where are the Christmas trees?”
Judging from recent movies, the pendulum seems to be swinging back toward unselfconscious celebration of Christmas so long as it's safely secularized, as in “The Santa Claus III,” “Deck the Halls,” “Elf,” “Christmas with the Cranks,” etc. The time may have come to fulfill Peanuts character Lucy's wish to be the Christmas Queen, another character you won't find in the Book of Luke.
What's still problematic, judging by
“In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.” (John 1:4,5)
“The Nativity Story” opens today in 3,000 theaters nationwide. Theater owners probably won't be offended if lots of people pass through their turnstiles. Merry Christmas.
